Enter right downwind/base/etc...vs make right traffic

ZBWPL Newcomer

This is for all of you swivel heads! What's the difference between enter right downwind and make right traffic? Is it the same thing but said differently, similar to headings, ie an aircraft on a 360 heading " turn left heading 350" and "turn 10 degrees left"? My coworkers have introduced me to live ATC and I've heard both.

Thanks.

goff1029 Junior Member Fernandina Beach, FL

Enter right downwind/base is used for someone that calls you to enter the traffic pattern. (ABC Tower this is N1234 we are 10 north and would like to come in for some pattern work) then you as a controller would say N1234 enter left/right downwind/base or make staight in RWY #. After the A/C does his option or whatever you clear them to do then you tell them make left/right traffic or left/right closed traffic or even make closed traffic if you don't care if it's left or right closed. That is how I do it but I am at an International Airport and we do not have much pattern work. I do here some controllers say right/left downwind approved after the A/C make its T/G as well.

ajmezz Trusted Contributor Annapolis, MD

Don't forget to identify yourself

jamisjockey Senior Analyst Pearland, TX

Right
on
the
money.

I'm in a podunker and most of what we do is pattern work.

radicrog Trusted Member Vegas

Occasionally, I have to specify an west or east downwind at my airport since some pilots apparently don't know their left from right,LOL.

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

make right traffic means you want the aircraft to go to the downwind and you don't care if they enter on the 45 or straight to the downwind.

enter right downwind means go directly to the downwind and do NOT enter on the 45.

after touch and go, make right traffic means subsequent patterns you want them to make right closed.

just my 2 cents from when i used to be a swivel head.

maddog68 Newcomer AZ

Make left/right traffic means, enter the downwind from a 45 like shown in the AIM, for pattern entry. Enter DW, Base ets means from your present position proceed direct. ie. a/c calls 10 mi N for landing, RY in use 34. Not other traffic you give enter DW. If there is pattern traffic that might be a factor have the A/C enter on a 45 by saying make left traffic, report 2 mi. 45.
That is the difference.

ZBWPL Newcomer

Ok thanks.

BonanzaMan Junior Member

45 degree entries are only for uncontrolled fields. They make no sense at a tower controlled field.

atcguruaf Rico Suave Right here

First time I heard that Bonanza. Normally, if I want the aircraft to enter the down wind from anything OTHER than the 45, I'll state so, like "make left traffic, enter the down wind from the departure end, traffic, ..." or something like that. If I say make left/right traffic, I expect aircraft to enter from the 45, and I've yet to read anything that states otherwise.

You fly a v-tail?